Veteran tech columnist Mossberg quits Facebook

Veteran tech columnist Walt Mossberg rocked the tech world Monday by announcing that he was quitting Facebook and company-owned Instagram, saying he's "no longer comfortable" with the policies and actions of the company.

Facebook has come under fire all year from tech pundits, politicians and concerned citizens over multiple data breaches, collecting personal information that can be in turn marketed to advertisers and how easy it's been for outside forces like Russia and other countries to manipulate media for political gain.

Veteran tech journalist Walt Mossberg(Photo: Jefferson Graham)

"I am hardly the first person to quit Facebook and I am not urging anyone else to do so, or trying to spark some dump-Facebook movement," wrote Mossberg, who retired in 2016 after cover tech for years for the Wall Street Journal, ReCode and the Verge. He is currently writing a book about his years in tech.

"This is a decision I am making just for myself. If the company or the service change significantly for the better, in my view, or become effectively regulated, I may resume regular use."

Mossberg declined further comment, saying he preferred to have his posts on Facebook and Twitter speak for themselves. Facebook also declined to comment.

On Twitter, many congratulated Mossberg for taking the stand, while others criticized him for sticking with Twitter, or the Internet, for that matter.

"If that's your standard, you might as well quit using the Internet entirely," wrote Douglas Chia on Twitter.

I quit a couple months ago. Made me realize iMessage/FaceTime is the only social network I need.

Different strokes. I think Facebook is fantastic. I have learned to moderate the time I spend on it. Getting in touch with old friends, acquiring new friends in my interests or hobbies, learning about events .... just wow.

The latest Facebook controversy erupted in November, when the New York Times revealed that Facebook had hired a political consulting firm to dig up dirt on George Soros, the billionaire financier who had criticized Facebook policies.

Initially, Facebook execs said they were unaware that the firm, Definers, a Republican linked lobbying firm, had worked for the social network, but then admitted to the hiring, saying that chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg was aware of the hire.

Just last week Facebook apologized for its latest security breach, a bug that affected up to 6.8 million people who used a Facebook login and gave permission to third-party apps to access their photos.

Facebook says the bug has been fixed but indicated some third-party apps “may have had access to a broader set of photos than usual” spanning the 12-day period between Sept. 13 and Sept. 25.